Just an Idea…

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• When I first saw the picture, I thought it was an editorial cartoon! I am not really sure what to think about this. I think it's great that they'd think about reusing the old facade, but it looks like a spaceship crashed into it. Maybe I'd like it better if was a coloured rendering? Right now, I just can't picture it...

• The problem is they aren't thinking about reusing the facade. This was a concept drawn up, to show them that reuse is possible.

• This kind of reuse happens all the time here in Toronto. Some people like it, some don't -- I think most are somewhere in middle, as I am. "Facadism" is a term I've heard. If the building can't be preserved as is, I think it can be a good compromise -- though it looses what I like about old buildings -- the weird nooks, the thought that these are the same floors people walked on 80 years ago, etc. Though it was unlikely I'd see much of the interior, so the exterior is what counts in most of our day-to-day existence.

  Though the aesthetic of the "crashed spaceship" Scooter speaks of is very much at the core of the "Toronto look" which is only beginning to be understood/appreciated. Old buildings and very modern glass and steel structures either right next to each other or part of the same building are all over this city. Think of the ROM crystal as the extreme expression of this. I love it -- old buildings appreciated, but not in an overly precious way -- bought right into the present. New and old, working together perfectly.

  The orthodox preservationists hate it -- they despise the ROM crystal -- but many of us part ways (though not commitment) at this point..

• BCE Place is amazing in Toronto. Great re-use of old building - even though they are just facades.

• I think the "crashed spaceship" analogy is pretty bang-on.

  However, when it comes to the vomit that Windsor usually ends up with, it rocks. I hate to be the one to perpetuate that "lesser of two evils" approach, but that's where we've ended up here in Windsor. The old Ouelette/Riverside TD facade needs to be reused, if only to end our monthly storage costs. I hope the developer looks to Mr. Heils initiative as a worthwhile suggestin as opposed to a threat and/or demand.

  I wonder how Mr. Heil envisions the rest of the block? Isn't O'Ryans pub disapearing as well? How will this corner integrate with the rest of downtown and Shanfields to the north? Will there be any public spaces built in to make the walk appealing to those on foot? A water feature, perhaps, built to delight the pedestrian as s/he makes walking a larger part of his/her daily routine?

  We must start to demand better in this city. Architecture was meant to be a multi-disciplinary practise, combining the needs of the client as well as the city as a whole. It should add to the public realm and build some social capital in the neighbourhood.

• ...er, I meant "Shanfields to the south". My inner-compass is vacationing this long weekend.

• i think it's fine ! would like it even better if the glass was tinted black especially. not with the blue tint crap. dark smokey tint ! it was stand out nicely with great contrast. but it won't happen who are we kidding. i can' t stand glass buildings but in this case it has a nice old beautiful mask !

• Chris, one thing at a time... Let's get them to even consider reusing the facade before we worry about the rest ;)

• Interesting concept, although this design has one major problem.

  I tend to be hesident when it comes to any "new school" artecture because it runs the risk of becoming dated very quickly, in the same way that googie or the style of the Cleary Guest House became dated a half hour after they were introduced.

  Now, having said that, the concept of reusing the facade is a good one. Stick it on some construction that compliments it instead of making it look like an old brown shoe, and it should work.

• It's good enough for me. Now, if they could find a way to incorporate the Patrick O'Ryan's building into this whole scheme, I'd be a lot happier.